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Codie Taylor has seen almost everything rugby could throw at him across his decorated 13-year professional career. Captaining the All Blacks, and embarking on this ruthless South African tour, are fresh experiences to treasure, though. Turns out veterans can savournew tricks. Taylor is a World Cup and multiple Super Rugby champion. He joined the rarefied All Blacks centurion club in Argentina last year but will this weekend lead the national team for the first time, in his return from injury, against the Bulls in Pretoria. While Taylor has been highly regarded by successive All Blacks coaches, Dave Rennie’s arrival further elevated his status to the point that had Ardie Savea not assumed the captaincy, he was next in line. New Zealand is blessed with hooking depth as Asafo Aumua and Samisoni Taukei’aho’s power carrying pressure Taylor for minutes, but with Rennie at the helm, he, clearly, remains top dog. Leading the All Blacks out at Loftus, in their final match before the first of four tests against the Springboks, is a moment Taylor will cherish. “It’s an incredible honour,” Taylor told the Heraldat the All Blacks base in Johannesburg this week. “I’ve been in the team, the leadership group, a wee while now with a few different coaching groups. With that experience, the coaches have backed me to take an opportunity to lead the boys. It’s going to be a special occasion personally, but we’ve got some rugby to play first. “I’ve been blessed to be around different leaders throughout the years, both at Super level and All Blacks. A lot of the leaders in the All Blacks were at the Crusaders so rubbing shoulders with those boys and learning as I go was valuable. Leadership is about leading from the front. That’s what I’m focusing on.” The hectic, taxing nature of this tour, the hype and anticipation surrounding the imminent tests, and attempting to knock off the world’s best three times in their backyard before venturing to the United States for the fourth money-spinning match, is among the All Blacks’ greatest challenges in the pro era. Codie Taylor will lead the All Blacks for the first time against the Bulls. Photo / Photosport “This is right up there,” Taylor said. “It probably sits just behind a World Cup and what the pressure is like there. Playing them three times in South Africa. I know how much of a challenge that’s going to be. And then having to roll out a fourth time in Baltimore… there’s going to be a few sore bodies on both sides after this series.” Taylor has lost count of how many times he’s ventured to the Republic with the Crusaders and All Blacks. While this seven-week, eight-match tour is different from any of those, his experience will be invaluable to impart on many All Blacks experiencing the pressure points exclusive to South Africa for the first time – from the thin-air altitude to hostile atmospheres and the physical, combative opposition. “It’s an exciting challenge. Where we’ve been the last few years as an All Blacks team, what we’re leading into next year, we’re coming up against a team we know well who has earned the right to be world champions and world No 1. With that there’s a lot of challenges but it’s an opportunity for a special group of men. Hopefully we’re treading in the right direction. “Being here you see how fanatical their fans are. They’re nice to you all week and then come gameday it’s the total opposite. But hey, they just love their team and fair enough. “You’re playing a team that backs themselves up front. If they open you through the middle they can burn you on the edge where they’ve got speed. It’s a real test across the board – at the set piece, attack, defence. It’s different over here. You’re playing at 80,000-seat stadiums and everyone is pretty much against you. The All Blacks will meet the Springboks at Ellis Park next week. Photo / Getty Images “Altitude is different. They try to say it doesn’t affect you but it definitely does. I’m not sure whether the South African lads are used to it or not but you have to get your second wind pretty quick. A lot of the boys here haven’t felt that before so it will be a new experience for them.” Reflecting on the turbulence the All Blacks endured in the past year, and the widespread changes Rennie ushered in since assuming charge from Scott Robertson, Taylor believes the team is charting early progress. “There’s been a lot go on with coaching and the team itself. The experiences earlier in the year were pretty tough but the transition as a group, everyone has bought in. The coaches have been really clear on what they want and how we want to play. That’s all you can ask for and then it’s about performances on the field.” Five matches into Rennie’s reign a definitive attacking style shift and internal metrics that demand everyone regain their feet on attack and defence is evident, leaving no room for ambiguity. “This coaching group pride themselves on work ethic and the detail within our skill set is right on. That’s been a noticeable change with this group. It’s helped us cement the way we want to play. There’s still a lot to be better at but it’s a good start. “Everyone is expected to work hard. It means we get set and see more opportunities.” Defusing high ball aerial assault, gaining parity at the set piece and minimising penalties, which the All Blacks haven’t nailed thus far, will determine the success of this tour. “We have been the most carded team in world rugby in the past. You don’t get anything these days. The refs are out there trying to do a good job, there’s TMOs, any little slight thing that doesn’t look right is going against you so discipline is a big one to get right. “You combine a tour like this and a few of the young boys coming through and the nature of the way we’ve been playing, it feels like we’ve got a brand of rugby New Zealand can be proud of. Hopefully we can continue that.” Promising signs, indeed, but the palpable pressure of this tour is yet to truly take hold. Liam Napier is a Senior Sports Journalist and Rugby Correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast. Listen to Elliott Smith’s live commentary on Newstalk ZB Sport and iHeartRadio, or join the Alternative Commentary Collective on iHeartRadio and Radio Hauraki.